2013 Annual Report
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SATTER FOUNDATION | 2013 ANNUAL REPORT To help solve the complicated problems the poor face, we seek to empower the powerless by investing in bold, tactical, and innovative social entrepreneurs and organizations. Table of Contents 2 Founder’s Letter: Muneer Satter 5 Founder’s Letter: Kristen Hertel 6 Mission and Vision 7 Historical Grant-Making Trends 9 Grantee Profile: Room to Read 10 Grantee Profile: The Nature Conservancy 13 Grantee Profile: Beyond Sports Foundation 14 Grantee Profile: One Acre Fund 17 Grantee Profile: Joffrey Ballet 18 Satter Foundation 2013 Grantees 23 Financial Statements The Satter Foundation 2013 Annual Report | 1 CREATINGREALANDPERMANENTCHANGE As the years go by, the issues we address may change, but we hope to always look beyond the easy wins and take on risky projects that aim for lasting impact. In 2013, the foundation supported many organizations that put in leading-edge thinking, tremendous dedication, and hard work to help fulfill their missions. Kristen and I started the Satter Foundation 17 years ago to help In 2013, the foundation supported many organizations that put in the underprivileged—whether they be in our local communities or leading-edge thinking, tremendous dedication, and hard work to help around the world. Our focus is on creating real and permanent fulfill their missions. Their achievements include: change in their lives and in the environment we all share. It’s simply • Helping to reduce violence in Uganda by 97 percent not enough to “put Band-Aids on bullet holes,” as Shannon Sedgwick Davis, CEO of one of our grantees, the Bridgeway Foundation, • Confronting dictators around the world says. To help solve the complicated problems the poor face, we • Preserving over 310,000 acres of land in northwestern Montana seek to empower the powerless by investing in bold, tactical, and We also started the foundation as a way to pass on a legacy of giving innovative social entrepreneurs and organizations. to our daughters. My own introduction to philanthropy was through Our approach to philanthropy is similar to venture funding: success my mother’s work as a civil rights activist. Today, she’d be proud of lies in backing individuals with big ideas who are doing something our work to improve educational opportunities—a core human right— important, in having the patience to help grow organizations, and in the United States and to increase the opportunities available to in being comfortable with shifting approaches when progress isn’t girls around the world. As the years go by, the issues we address made and initiatives are stuck outside the winner’s circle. We’re not may change, but we hope to always look beyond the easy wins and afraid to take on big, difficult issues—spreading democracy and take on risky projects that aim for lasting impact. human rights; creating economic opportunities for the poor, We invite you to read in these pages about the innovative and inspir- including supporting access to quality education; preventing atroci- ing people the foundation supports, and we welcome your thoughts. ties; and protecting the environment—even as we also recognize the importance of addressing immediate and local needs. Sincerely, ”Muneer Satter The Nature Conservancy has preserved the Swan Mountain Range in Montana, which remains one of the most intact places on earth; it hasn’t experienced animal extinction in 200 years. Read more about the organization’s work on page 10. The Satter Foundation 2013 Annual Report | 2 & 3 An Evanston High School student and Beyond Sports Foundation participant trains for a college athletic career. Read more about the organization’s work on page 13. The Satter Foundation 2013 Annual Report | 4 & 5 HELPINGOTHERSOVERCOMECHALLENGES My personal experiences have shaped the education, medical research, and social-service issues I invest in and have inspired my reason for giving: so that others can avoid or overcome challenges similar to those I have faced. While Muneer’s interests are often globally focused, mine center on bold leaders who are working locally and who are actively growing their grassroots endeavors. As Muneer and I strive to achieve our goal of making meaningful Of course, people from disadvantaged backgrounds need more than and lasting change in the lives of the poor, we do so in complemen- financial support to overcome the many hurdles they face, which is tary ways. While Muneer’s interests are often globally focused, mine why the foundation also invests in organizations that provide the edu- center on bold leaders who are working locally and who are actively cation, mentorship, and guidance that is critical to children’s ability to growing their grassroots endeavors. These efforts resonate with me succeed in life. You can read more about one such organization, the because I know what it’s like to not have two nickels to rub togeth- Beyond Sports Foundation, on page 13. er, to depend on a scholarship for a college education, to struggle Our local grantees have accomplished much in 2013. For example: with depression, and to spend long hours in the NICU. My personal experiences have shaped the education, medical research, and • NorthShore University HealthSystem Foundation’s postpartum social-service issues I invest in and have inspired my reason for depression program continues to expand its free perinatal giving: so that others can avoid or overcome challenges similar to support groups to low-income women. It also has extended its those I have faced. screening pilot program so women can be screened for depression up to one year after giving birth. The foundation’s approach, however, is the same no matter the grantee’s size or location: we take a careful look at its organizational • Two NIH-funded physician scientists have leveraged the leadership, its capacity to achieve the impact it seeks, and its ability foundation’s gifts to obtain subsequent federal funding to support to leverage our grants to ensure that our support will build capacity, their research on preventing preterm labor. catalyze fund-raising and partnerships, and magnify impact. Take, for • With our support, Project Excite, which previously only worked with example, the research on preterm labor the foundation supports at students up to the eighth grade, has hired a high-school counselor. Evanston Hospital. Our grants allowed the lab to bring on research This is allowing the organization to work with students all the way staff. This, in turn, positioned the lab to receive significantly more through high school, better preparing them for collegiate success. funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Another lab, I look forward to seeing the work of our grantees take root in our this one at the University of Chicago, is researching the use of adult communities and to supporting them, with both grant making and stem cells to repair, and even grow, organs. Our support has helped guidance, as they grow. I would welcome the opportunity to tell you this lab expand its funding base and continue its important, poten- more about their efforts. tially revolutionary work. Regardless of their size, our investments in these types of grantees will have profound effects on the world. Sincerely, ”Kristen Hertel --- MISSION The Satter Foundation aims to empower the powerless and to preserve our world’s land and water by investing in bold, tactical, and innovative social entrepreneurs and organizations. VISION We envision a world where all people—no matter where or in what circumstances they are born— have the resources and opportunities to live a free, educated, prosperous, and healthy life. The Satter Foundation 2013 Annual Report | 6 & 7 HISTORICALGRANT-MAKINGTRENDS TOTAL DOLLARS GRANTED TO DATE: $28.7 MILLION Total Dollars Awarded 2013 Funding by Issue Area 2013 Funding Distribution per Year 1997–2013 by Location $6,000,000 47% $5,000,000 40% $4,000,000 24% 38.38%38.38% 60000006000000 14% 36% $3,000,000 10% 50000005000000 24.01%24.01% 15.67%15.67% 8% 9.45% 40000004000000 9.45% 2% $2,000,000 8.40% 8.40%2% 2.29%2.29% 1.77%1.77% 30000003000000 ■ Providing■ Providing educational educational opportunitiesopportunities | $2,283,333| $2,283,333 18% ■ Promoting■ Promoting human human rights rights & democracy | $1,370,000 20000002000000 $1,000,000 & democracy | $1,370,000 ■ Providing■ Providing health health & human & human servicesservices | $778,000| $778,000 ■ Protecting■ Protecting the the environment environment & species& species | $535,000| $535,000 10000001000000 ■ Building■ Building financial financial stability stability & opportunity& opportunity | $475,000| $475,000 ■ Supporting■ Supporting the the arts arts | $131,000| $131,000 ■ International■ International | $2,650,000 | $2,650,000 ChicagoChicago | $2,033,333 | $2,033,333 0 ■ Supporting■ Supporting & honoring & honoring ■ ■ veteransveterans | $106,000| $106,000 UnitedUnited States* States* | $995,000 | $995,000 0 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 ■ ■ 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 * excluding Chicago funding Room to Read is helping to rebuild Cambodia’s educational system. The Satter Foundation 2013 Annual Report | 8 & 9 ROOMTOREAD Room to Read’s motto is “World change starts with educated children.” It works to improve literacy and gender equality in education in 10 Asian and African countries, reversing the notion that where you are born determines your success in life. It establishes libraries, constructs classrooms, publishes local- language children’s books, trains educators, and supports girls’ education. In its 14 years of operation, the organization has reached 8.8 million children. The foundation has given $3.1 million since 2004, which has helped educate approximately 80,000 children, 80,000setting them on a sturdy path to success.